People who are living without teeth or who use dentures are amazed by the difference dental implants can make in their lives. This simple procedure can boost your confidence, does away with the inconvenience of managing dentures, and prevents the embarrassment of a denture slipping out of place while you are eating, speaking or laughing. There’s little wonder why dental implants are becoming increasingly popular these days!
A dental implant involves anchoring one or more threaded titanium cylinders into the jawbone. A new artificial tooth is mounted to the implant once the area surrounding the cylinder has healed. The end result will look and function just like your own natural teeth.
Dentists and oral surgeons have essentially perfected the dental implant procedure, which is why patients typically enjoy minimal recovery times. Most people can go about their regular business immediately following the surgery. The active recovery period following the implant lasts about one to two weeks, and the replacement tooth itself can be placed once the jaw tissue surrounding the titanium screw has fully mended – typically about four to six months after the initial procedure.
The dentist or oral surgeon who gives you your dental implant will follow every conceivable precaution as they permanently alter your jawbone. But as the patient, there is much you can do to help make sure your dental implant becomes a success. If you would like to join the 99% of people who are satisfied with their dental implants, please read on to learn our tips for managing the recovery process.
Get Plenty of Rest
Your body’s ability to heal itself is nothing short of miraculous. Several factors influence how quickly the body will heal following a simple surgical procedure. Getting plenty of rest is not the least important among them.
Don’t push yourself too hard following your initial dental implant procedure. Get plenty of sleep, and avoid strenuous activities (especially ones which carry a heightened risk of inflicting an injury to your face or mouth – no jiu-jitsu for you). Don’t refrain from physical activity altogether, however, as exercise may actually reduce inflammation to accelerate healing.
Enjoy Appropriate Foods
A dental implant recipient should make a few important changes to their diet after their procedure. You should avoid eating spicy foods during the 48 hours following surgery, as these may irritate the soft tissues surrounding the fresh implant. It is also recommended that you avoid any foods which require chewing during the initial 24 to 48 hour recovery period. (For a Utahan this usually means eating plenty of Jell-O!)
Once the initial recovery period has concluded, you can resume eating foods which require some chewing: rice, eggs, pasta and steamed vegetables are all suitable. Avoid eating very hot foods during the initial two weeks of recovery, as these may damage the surgical site. But after about one to two weeks, you can resume eating all the chewier, spicier foods you used to enjoy.
More ice cream is always a welcome prospect, but make sure to eat plenty of nutritious foods during your recovery as well. Getting enough vitamins, protein, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids will help to speed up your recovery!
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking lots of water is always advisable, but it is especially beneficial while you are recuperating from light surgery. A body with plenty of water becomes far more effective at delivering the nutrients which repair cells to the recovering area.
Although they do technically contain water, alcoholic beverages are best avoided during the dental implant recovery period. While alcohol does numb pain, it also decelerates the natural healing process. Caffeinated, sugary and carbonated beverages can similarly slow down the healing process, as can using a straw.
Regularly Rinse with Salt Water
Salt preserves food so well because it has powerful antimicrobial properties. The mineral is extremely effective at killing many types of bacteria because it sucks the water right out of them!
It is easy to put this inexpensive oral antibiotic to good use during your recovery. Simply add one teaspoon of table salt to eight ounces of warm water, stir it until it has dissolved, and rinse your mouth for about half a minute. Once you have spat the water out, you may notice decreased irritation at once.
Avoid Smoking
We won’t hammer you over the head with all the reasons why you should quit smoking. We would just like to underscore the fact that nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict, which in turn limits the amount of oxygen they can supply to your jawbone and its surrounding oral tissues. Nicotine also inhibits osseointegration – in simpler words, tobacco can make it more difficult for your jawbone to fuse to the titanium screw, which increases the chance of dental implant failure.
Continue Practicing Good Oral Hygiene
Just like they may prescribe analgesic medicine or recommend using an ice pack, your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend making slight changes to your oral hygiene routine during your recovery. Follow their instructions to a T, as doing so will minimize your risk of developing an infection around the site of surgery. A clean mouth is a healthy mouth!
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Would you like to learn more about dental implants, including what to expect following the procedure and how you can minimize discomfort during your recovery period? That’s what All About Teeth is here for! We welcome you to contact us with any questions you might have, as well as to schedule a consultation at our conveniently located clinic near downtown Logan, Utah.
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